By Steve Keating
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Google Alena Sharp and the second item to pop up under the “People also ask” section is the question: “Is Alena Sharp still golfing?”
Yes, she is at the Pan American Games in Santiago where the veteran Canadian is chasing a medal, trying to qualify for the Paris Olympic team and working towards getting back her LPGA Tour card.
That is an impressive to-do list for a 42-year-old, who continues to chase golf glory around the globe long after many of her contemporaries have moved on to other things.
Still able to match up with the younger big-hitters, Sharp closed with three straight birdies on Thursday for an opening round of five-under 67 to sit alone in second place, two behind Sofia Garcia of Paraguay.
“I have a lot of grind left in me,” Sharp told Reuters. “I just love trying to get better every day and I still feel young and I’m hitting it far enough to keep playing with this young 18 to 20 year-olds.
“The day that I don’t want to get out and practise is when I’ll say, ok maybe I shouldn’t be playing professional golf anymore but I’m not there yet.”
Goal number one in Santiago is to get a medal but Sharp is also using the Games to prepare for the Q series, where she will try to get back her LPGA Tour card and earn a spot on a third consecutive Olympic team.
Sharp has spent much of her career bouncing between golf’s minor Tours and the LPGA, where she has 15 top-10 finishes but no wins.
She has two victories on the Epson Tour, claiming her first title since 2014 at the Champions For Change Invitational in June to push her career earnings close to $3 million.
When it comes to teeing it up for Sharp, however, value is experience and the 19-year professional is embracing her mentor role.
At the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sharp was teamed with one of Canada’s most popular athletes Brooke Henderson, a 13-times LPGA Tour winner, including two major titles.
In Santiago, her team mate is Selena Costabile, a classically trained pianist who struggled to an opening round 77.
“It’s the Canadian way,” Sharp said. “When I first came on the Tours AJ Thorn took me under her wing and Gail Graham did that for her and I just feel it is good to give back.
“I love being part of a bigger Team Canada, golf is such an individual sport so coming to the Olympics and the Pan Am Games is just a different feel for us golfers,” she added.
“I really want to qualify for the Olympics that’s my huge goal.”
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Santiago, Editing by Ed Osmond)
